Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-09
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The pie charts below show how working adults in a particular country spent their time in 1958 and 2008.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
* Note: these aren’t the original diagrams given in the test, they were recreated for the purpose of demonstration.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The given pie charts compare the percentage of the day spent by working adults in six activities in a particular country in 1958 and 2008. Overall, it is clear that the largest proportion of people's time was spent by working and sleeping. However, the average working time increased and sleeping time fall over the period. In 1958, the percentage of working on a day accounted for 33% and sleeping followed at 32%. Adults spent 19% their time going out with friends or family and 8% relaxing at home. The smallest proportion of time spent by travelling to work, at only 2%. In 2008, the working time increased significantly to 42% and sleeping time fell to 25%. Adults spent their time relaxing at home rose to 13% and going out with friends or family decreased to 6%. However, in 2008, adult spent their time by playing sports was 7% and the proportion travelling to work increased to 7%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all key features of the pie charts, including the main trends and specific data points for both years. The overview is clear, identifying the primary changes in working and sleeping habits. However, the report could be improved by better integration of the data. For instance, the comparison between 1958 and 2008 is somewhat mechanical, listing figures rather than synthesizing the information. While the main features are reported, the analysis lacks a more sophisticated comparison of the shifts in leisure activities, which would elevate the response to a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'In 1958', 'In 2008'). There is a lack of variety in linking words, and some transitions between sentences feel abrupt. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the flow between the data points could be smoother to better guide the reader through the comparison of the two time periods.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication of the data. The student uses some topic-specific terms like 'proportion', 'accounted for', and 'increased significantly'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'sleeping time fall' (should be 'fell') and 'adult spent their time by playing sports' (should be 'time spent playing sports'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To achieve a higher score, the student should incorporate more varied synonyms and precise collocations related to trends and data reporting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'the largest proportion of people's time was spent by working' (should be 'spent working'), 'sleeping time fall' (should be 'fell'), and 'Adults spent their time relaxing at home rose' (a run-on/incorrect structure). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not impede overall communication. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and correct prepositional usage would improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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